A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Gardening in the Shade Suggestions please..

I am looking for some new easy mostly shade some sun perrenials for a few areas.
Gets a few hours of morning sun but the rest is shady. Something not really tall this is not pink! Going with a color theme. I like things that have interesting leaves for when the blooms leave. OK Garden experts, DAzzle me! I will try anything!

You can never go wrong with hostas, there are lots of varieties that do well in the shade, and I have some that have grown huge in the sun! I also like sedum, they grow easily and we have very large ones. Also they are easy to propegate.

huechera - tons of different color variation. the leaves are the thing with them as the flowers are very, very, very tiny.

colors available range from various shades of green (very light to very dark) and into purples and even some that are so dark they're black. there are some that are silverish/whitish as well.

japanese painted ferns also come in a variety of colorations.

I love Hostas, but I have so many.. I was looking for a green coral bell variety, that has almost salmon pink flowers on its long stem. very pretty, but does not go where I want to plant, staying away from pinks in this area. More purple and white and more greens. The things you described sound very interesting Jocelyn. Does it have a common name? I am going to a bi nursery today to do some hunting.
Thanks guys. I get so overwhelmed with all the choices.

heuchera...ladies slipper, I think, could be wrong. I like standard ajuga, but I believe it isn't hardy in your zone. I wish I could remember all the hardiness info on perrenials. some of the compact daylillies bloom over a long period. Liriope (monkeygrass) has attractive blossoms, and there is a variegated variety which spreads slower and has excellent foliage. I have to have the annual Impatiens in my shade garden, it's outstanding, and begonias are nice. Some perrenials are very short season bloomers, bleeding heart, columbine, and others are great for a short while. Are you in zone 5?

I am not a fan of the monkey grass. Got it, can' get rid of it and it does serve a purpose of preventing soil erosion, but don't like it.

In 1 house I lived in the impatients were beautiful. They got as big as shrubs and reseeded and returned every year. You might want to try a few and see if you have the right conditions for those. Begonias can be lovely too - under the correct conditions.

Doesn't astilbe grow well in your area and return. The red is a beautiful color.

Will ferns fit in your scheme?

I think they, you know, add a refining touch to any shady landscape, like mine here:


Maidenhair Fern adiantum pedatum